wagner



April 27 1926. 1,582,360

W. F. WAGNER CONVERTIBLE SINGLE AND DOUBLE IGNITION DEVICE Filed Oct. 16 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 wmwto a v 0 ,wfmw/ f CONVERTIBLE SINGLE AND DOUBLE IGNITION DEVICE Filed Oct. 16, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A ril 27,1926.

Y W. F. WAGNER CONVERTIBLE] SINGLE AND DOUBLE IGNITION DEVICE Filed Oct. 16, 1 2 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Q vi tvwoo 3: Wag Maw flbkvmago I Patented Apr. 27, l zd.

Uhll'lED SFATlid CONVEBTBLE SIDl'GLE AND DOUBLE IGNITION DEVICE.

Application filed October 16, 1924. Serial No. 744,089.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVILLIADI F. WAGNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ainbridge, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Single and Double Ignition Devices; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

While the majority of internal combustion motors are commonly equipped with only a single ignition system, that is a. system in which a single spark plug is provided in each cylinder, others are constructed with double ignition, in which two plugs are provided for each motor cylinder. It has heretofore been customary to provide one form of circuit breaker and distributor for a'single ignition system and another form for the dual system, but it is the primary object of my invention to provide an improved construction, whereby one apparatus may be converted for use in connection with either type of ignition. Y

With the foregoing and minor objects in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a side elevation of a distributor and breaker constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, most of the distributor rotor being shown in elevation.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the breaker" mechanism, the shell of the distributor and the distributor rotor having been removed from the common operating shaft for said rotor and the breaker cam.

Figures 4 and 5 are vertical sectional views as indicated by lines 4-l and 55 of Fig. 3.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but whereas Fig. 3 shows the breaker adjusted for single ignition, Fig. 6 shows it converted for dual ignition.

Figure 7 is a sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the base of the breaker.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional View through a portion of the distributor rotor, as indicated by line 9-9 of Fig. 52.

In the drawings above briefly described, the numeral 1 designates the usual cup-like base for the breaker mechanism, upon which the insulating shell 2 of the distributor is held by spring fasteners or the like 3. The usual operating shaft rises centrally through the bottom of the base-1 and is provided near its upper end with a plural-point cam 5, the upper extremity of the shaft 4 being detachably connected at 6, to a cylindrical distributor rotor 7, within the shell 2.

Within the base 1, at opposite sides of the cam 5, two base plates 8 and 8 are shown, said plates carrying circuit interrupters or breakers 9 and 9 respectively. These breakers are opened by the points of the cam 5 and are closed by appropriate spring devices 10. Provision is' made, whereby the plates 8 and 8 may be relatively adjusted so that .the' cam 5 will successively open the breakers 9 and 9, as seen in Figs. 3 and 5, or may be so related as to cause the points of the cam to simultaneously openboth breakers, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 When the relation of Fig. 3 is employed, the breaker can be used in the ignition system of a multiple cylinder motor having only one spark plug for each cylinder, but when the arrangement of Fig. 6 is produced, the

breaker is adapted for use in a dual ignition system of a motor havinghalf as many cylinders as the first mentioned motor.

Relative adjustment of the two breakers 9 and 9 for use in a single ignition system of a motor having a plurality of cylinders, or for a dual ignition system of a. motor having'half as many cylinders, distinguishes my invention from other breakers in which two circuit interrupters are relatively adjustable only to obtain operation thereof at the proper time. My invention. also-embodies fmeans whereby slight relative adjustment of j-the 'breakers may be ellccted for the lastnained purpose, but this is not the primary intent of the adjustment, as will be clear.

from the foregoing.

Forsecuring the plate 8 to the base 1, and permitting slightadjustnrent of said plate circumferentially of the base, I employ screws 11 passing through arcuate slots 12 v in said plate and threaded into-the base (this plate is relatively stationary, in so far as conversion ot the breaker for. use in difierent' ignition systems, is concerned. The plate 8 is formed with two screw-re ceiving slots 13 which register with screw openings 14 in the base 1 when the plate stands as shown in Fig. 3, but register with other openings 15 in the base 1, when the plate 8 is adjusted to the position of Fig. 6. Aftermaking either major adjustment of the plate 8, and passing clamping screws 16 through the slots 13, into the proper screw openings of the base 1, slight, accurate adjustment of said plate 8 is permitted by the slots 13, before final tightening of the screws 16. v

Bothof the breakers 9 and 9 are preferably of the same construction, and a description of the preferred form of one breaker will therefore suiiice for both. The breaker is preferably provided with two vertically) spaced, fixed contacts 17 and. with two mova le contacts 18 co-acting therewith, these movable contacts being carried by a spring 19 which is secured atone end to a contact arm 20, said arm being suitably mounted on the plate 8 or 8, as indicated at p 21. The construction of thearm 20, is substantially identical with that shown in the U. S. application SeriaLNo. 660,615, filed on or about September 1, 1923, and hence, further description of the arm is unnecessary, except that it may be stated that is is provided with a shoe 22 for a co-action with the points of the cam 5.."

In the a plication just referred to, a form of spring evice was employed for swinging the arm inwardly, which cannot be conveniently used in connection with the-presentconstruction. Hence, it has been replaced by the spring device 10. This spring device comprises a horizontal cylinder 23 stationarily secured to the plate 8 or 8 and having a closed end and an open end,a coiled compression s ring 24. within the cylinder, an adjusting e'vice 25 for the spring, passing throughthe outer end of said cylinder, and a second cylinder 26 telescopically engaged with the cylinder 23 and having an open inner end receiving the spring, outer end of said cylinder 26 being closed and being in contact with the arm 20 to move it to contact-making position after the cam has swung it outwardly to break the circuit.

The fixed contacts 17 above referred to, are. preferably mounted on a post 2? rising from a horizontal plate 23,'this plate being slidably received in a channel 29 in an insulating base 3Q which is rigidly secured to the p" ate 3 or 3 The base 30 is formed with a longitudinal slot 31, and a block of insulation 32 fits within the outer portion of the cnannel 29 in contact with the slotted portion of plate, a clamping screw 33 being passed through said block, said slot and the (ease threaded. the plate or 3",

the

to securely clamp the plate 28 in adjusted positionlf -The screw 33 however and the slot 31, permit any necessary adjustments of the fixed contacts 17 with respect to the movable contacts 18. The current conducting wires 34 are soldered or otherwise secured to the plates 28 and it will be under-' stood that the screws 33 are held out of contact with any portions of these plates, by the insulating blocks 32 and the/bases 30.

The form of distributor, preferably employed with the novel breaker structure above described, is shown very clearly in Figs. 1, 2 and 9. At. the upper end of the breaker shell 2, l have shown a. curr'entinlet contact 35, while spaced around the upper portion of the wall of said shell, are current outlet contacts 36, equal in number to the points on the cam 5. Below these contacts, I have shown a radially yieldable current inlet contact 37 and a plurality of current outlet contacts 38 which are also equal in number to the points on the -cam 5. These contacts 38 are staggered with respect to the contacts 36, and'upper and lower brushes 39 and 40, carried by the 'rotor body 7,

co-act with said contacts, and by a novel construction described below, these brushes may be set so that the upper brush 39 will first strike one of the contacts 36 and the lower brush40 will-then strike one of the contacts 38, or said brushes may be set so that simultaneously with contacting engagement of the upper brush 39, the lower brush 40 is also in contacting-engagement. The first relation of brushes is employed for single ignition on a multiple cylinder motor, while the lastmentioned arrangement is used for dual ignition on a motor having half as many cylinders.

The body 7,.in the provided with two, radially opening brush sockets 4:1- and d2, thedistance between which, corresponds to the distance in degrees between one of the contacts 36 and the next succeedin contact 38. Either of the sockets ib-4:2 1s adapted to receive the brush to, andthe socket 41 is directly below another socket 43 for the brush 39. lihe brushes are placed in the sockets 41 and 4-3 when the device is used on onejlrind of and for dual ignition, the brush 40 is removed and placed in the socket 422, v

For supplying current to the brush 40 when it is in either of its positions, novel provision is made. d4.- dosignates a contact ring surrounding the lower end of the rotor body 7 engaging the radially yieldable contact 37, above referred to. Under the sockets 42 respectively, the ring 44 is provided. with conductors 45 and -16 which extend into-the body 7 and have their inner ends exposed the walls of vertical bores 4 2', said bores being formed in. the rotor ignition system,

resent disclosure, is

body and leading from the lower end of said body into the sockets 41 and 42. A screw 48 having a coiled spring 49 in its upper end, may be inserted into either of the bores 47, so that said screw contacts electrically with the conductor or 46, as the case may be, and the spring 49 will carry current to the brush 40. This spring preferably contacts with an angular sheet metal plate 50 which engages the bottom and rear end of the socket 41 or 42. I

It will be seen that the arrangement just described will carry current from the contact 37 to the brush 40, whether the latter is in the opening ll or the opening 42.

Current may be carried to the upper brush 39 from the contact 35, by any desired means. I have shown a vertically yieldable contact 51 slidable in a metal tube 52 inset in the upper end of the rotor body 7, and a conductor 58 (preferably a screw) leads from the inner end of the brush socket 43, to said tube 52, current being carried from this conductor to the brush 39, by a coiled spring 54 which serves also to project the brush. A similar spring 55 is provided for the brush 40 and this spring is preferably interposed between said brush and the upturned inner end of the plate 50.

, Both brushes are by preference formed with longitudinal slots 56, and when said brushes are disposed as seen in Fig. 2, a single insulating pin 57, passing through a bore in the body 7, may extend through said slots so as to retain the brushes in their sockets, when the shell 2 is removed. lVhen the brush 40 is shifted to the socket 42, a separate pin 58 is used to retain it in place.

It will be seen from the foregolng, that distinctive advances have been made in the art, by providing the circuit breaker and-the distributor, both capable of conversion for use either-with the single ignition of a multiple cylinder motor, or with dual ignition for a motor having half as many cylinders. As excellent results may be obtained from the general construction disclosed, it may well be followed, but within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous modifications may be made, and obviously, any

v, desired number of points may beprovided on the cam 5 and any necessary numbers of the contacts 36 and 38 may be used, according to the number of cylinders of the motors, in connection with which the device is usable.

I claim:

1. In an ignition device for single ignition on a multiple cylinder motor or for dual ignition on a motor having half as many cylinders; current distributing means embodying a single distribution head having a plurality of annular series of outlet contacts, a rotor in said head, and brushes carried by the rotor for co-action with said series of contacts respectively, said brushes bein mountedfor relative adjustments circumierentially of the rotor, whereby either simultaneous or successive contact engagement by said brushes may be effected.

2. An ignition circuit breaker convertible for single ignition on a multiple cylinder motor and for dual ignition on another motor having half as many cylinders, said breaker comprising a rotatable cam, a plurality of circuit interrupters controlled by said cam, a stationary support, and adjustable connecting means between said circuit ii'iterrupters and said support for relatively adjusting said circuit interrupters circumferentially of the cam to produce either simultaneous or successive opening of said interrupters.

3. An ignition circuit breaker convertible for single ignition on a multiple cylinder motor and for dual ignition on another motor havingf half as many cylinders, said breaker comprising a plural-point rotatable cam, a plurality of circuit interrupters having shoes co-o'perable with the points of said cam to operate said interrupters, a stationary support, and adjustable connecting means between said circuit interrupters and said support for adjusting said interrupters circun'iferentially of the cam to cause either simultaneous engagement of said shoes by the cam points or successive engagement of saidvshoes by said points.

4. An ignition circuit breaker convertible for single ignition on a multiple cylinder motor and for dual ignition on another motor having half as many cylinders, said breaker comprising a support, a plural-point rotatable cam at one side of said support, a pair of plates contacting with the support at opposite sides of said cam, a pair of circuit breakers mounted on said plates respectively and controlled by the points of the aforesaid cam, means securing one. of said plates to saidsupport, the other plate having a screw opening and said support having two screw openings spaced apart on an arc concentric with the cam axis, and a. screw insertible through the screw opening of said other pla'te into either of said spaced screw openings for securing said other plate in either of two positions, one of said positions causing relative positioning of the two breakers for simultaneous opening, the other position serving to relate said breakers for successive opening.

5. A breaker comprising fixed and movable contacts, a metal plate on which the fixed contact is carried, said plate having a longitudinal slot, a base of insulation having a channel in which said plate is slidably re ceived, an insulating block contacting'with the outer side of said plate and fitting into said channel, and a fastener passing through plate between base and rotor, and a single shaft carrying said rotor andsaid cam; a plurality of an nular series of current outlet .contacts carried by said distributor head, an equal plurality of brushes carried by-said, rotor for co-action with said series ofcontacts respectively, and means whereby said brushes may be relatively adjusted circumferentially of the rotor for either successive or simultaneous contact engagement; a plurality of circuit breakers co-operable with the aforesaid cam, and means adjustably mounting said breakers on said base and permitting relative circumferential adjustment of said breakers for either successive or simultaneous circuit breaking.

7. A distributor convertible for single ignition on a multiple cylinder motor or for distributor head detachdual ignition on a motor having half as many cylinders, said distributor comprising a shell, at least two circumferential series of current, outlet contacts carried by said shell, a rotor within the shell having brushes cooperable with said series of said contacts respectively, and means permitting relative adjustment of said brushes for contact engagement either simultaneously or successively. 1

8. A distributor comprising a cylindrical rotor body having circumferent-ially spaced brush sockets and bores leading to said sockets from one end of the body, a contact ring surrounding said end of the body and having conductors leading to said bores, a brush insertible into any of said sockets, a current conductor for the brush insertible into any of said bores, and a shell for the rotor body, said shell having a current inlet contact engaging said ring, and current outlet contacts for engagement by the brush.

In testimony whereof l. have hereuntoaffixed my signature.

WILLIAM F; WAGNER, 

